Improvement in car-couplings



1. w. HART & w. s. LAWRENCE. Car-Couplings.

M x H ,o B c n V] n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN WV. HARTAND WILLIAM SLAWRENGE, OF WINCHESTER, KY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,753, dated April 14, 1874 application filed March 7, 1874. I

p the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon. v

Figure l of the drawing is a representation of an end View of our car-coupler. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, and Fig. 3 a detail View, of

the same.

This invention has relation to car-couplings of the self-coupling and seli uncoupling kind; and it consists in spring j aw of peculiar shape, combined with a link-hook and applied inside of a bulfer or draw-bar having a flaring mouth, as will be hereinafter explained.

In theannexed drawings, A designates a draw-bar having -a flaring mouth, and B is a steel jaw, which is applied in a recess made into the draw-bar, and rigidly secured at its rear end, as shown in Fig. 2. The front p0 tion of this spring is bent at an obtuse angle, so as to form an inclined portion, 11, below the angle, against which portion the end of the link D strikes, and is guided by it into the mouth of the draw-bar in making a coupling.

' At. the angle or ridge formed by the bent portionb, two shoulders,a, are applied, between which the link is received when in the coupling. These shoulders a are beveled so that should a car run oft the track, the linkwill 2. It will be seen from the above description that the spring-jaw B affords a support for the link D, and holds this link up behind the link-hook C, so that under ordinary circumstances the link cannot become casually detached from its hook. The link is detached from the draw-bar by means of a chain, c, which is attached at one end to the springjaw B, and at the other end to a shaft, E,- supported in bearings below the draw-bar, and extended but to the sides of the car-platform, and provided with hand-wheels on its ends,'by means of which an uncoupling can be effected without going between the platforms, and endangering life or limb.

This-improved car-coupler is applicable to cars as now constructed, and the improved devices are applicable to the well-known drawbars at a very trifling expense.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The angular spring-jaw B, having the bevelshoulders to, in combination with the linkhook O, as and for the purpose set forth.

I11 testimony that we claim the above we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence oftwo witnesses.

JOHN W. HART. .WILLIAM S. LAVVRENOF. Witnesses:

GoLUMBUs THoMsoN, J. W. PoYN'rER. 

